Evans, Kendall Would Like to Return to Washington

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 28 -- Two of the Washington Redskins' starters will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in March, with guard Pete Kendall and defensive end Demetric Evans both saying they hope to be back with Washington after a season-ending 27-24 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.

Evans, who moved ahead of former Pro Bowler Jason Taylor at left end and tied Taylor for second on the team with 3 1/2 sacks, said he is eager to re-sign. "I want to be back," Evans said. "I hope they want me back." Evans, 29, came to the Redskins as a free agent in 2004, and is very valuable, able to play every position along the line in a pinch.

Kendall, 35, made it through two seasons with the Redskins without missing a game after being acquired from the Jets, but he knows his knees and age are an issue. Kendall is not ready to retire, he said, and the Redskins are his first choice of teams, but understands if they want to get younger.

"I know I'm not the greatest guard in the league," Kendall said, "but I think I'm more than serviceable, and we'll see if there's a market for that."

The Redskins' other potential unrestricted free agents are cornerback DeAngelo Hall, whom the team has already expressed an interest in signing to a long-term deal, and reserves Khary Campbell (linebacker), Alfred Fincher (linebacker), Jason Fabini (tackle), Mike Green (safety), Ryan Boschetti (defensive tackle), and long snapper Ethan Albright.

No Surgery for Kelly

Rookie wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who was inactive or hurt much of the year, said there are no future procedures planned for his left knee (he had arthroscopic surgery early in the season and the knee repeatedly was drained). Linebacker Rocky McIntosh, who has also required several procedures on his knees since college, said he needs no offseason medical work.

The medical staff believed at one point that Kelly would need another procedure to clean out or repair the knee, but Kelly said that only rehab is scheduled. Kelly has been working with a Toronto specialist that cornerback Shawn Springs introduced him to, and plans to see him throughout the offseason as well as workout with veterans in Arizona.

"I'm going to focus this offseason on my biomechanics, a lot of things around my knee that will prevent it from acting up," Kelly said. "I'm going to go to Arizona sooner rather than later and make sure I get on that and come into camp and make sure I stay healthy."

McIntosh, who made a speedy return from season-ending knee surgery in 2007, has played less often down the stretch, but said any drop in production was because of fatigue, and not his knees, which have been scoped several times in recent years. "It has nothing to do with the knees, it's just guys are getting tired and everybody rotates," McIntosh said.

Looking Ahead

By virtue of Sunday's loss and 8-8 record, the Redskins will end up picking higher in April's draft, and also face a weaker schedule as the last-place team in the NFC East. They will face conference foes Detroit and St. Louis next season. . . . The Redskins reported only one new injury, with rookie safety Chris Horton suffering a head contusion. Horton would have been able to return had the game gone to overtime, according to the team. . . . The 49ers formally announced that interim coach Mike Singletary would be hired on a permanent basis after the win, with the team finishing on a 5-2 run. "I don't think we could have written up a script any better than how it happened," team president Jed York said.